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Butler softball falls to New Egypt

Matt Cianfrone, Correspondent;
9:06 p.m. EDT June 7, 2014

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Butler players get a pep talk from their coaches after a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to New Egypt in in NJSIAA Group I state softball final on Saturday in Toms River.(Photo: Peter Ackerman/Staff Photographer)Buy Photo

TOMS RIVER — Just as she had all year, Butler sophomore Larissa Spellman dominated another lineup in Saturday afternoon's Group I final against New Egypt.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, an offense that had been almost as dominant all season long finally had a rough afternoon and despite Spellman allowing just one run and two hits in six innings, the Butler fell to New Egypt 1-0 to end a historic season.

"We hit the ball like we have all season," Butler head coach Brittany Marion said. "We just didn't score the runs, it is unfortunate."

Butler had chances in the first, sixth and seventh innings to scratch across runs, but each time New Egypt pitcher Jenna Rodriguez and her defense found a way keep the Bulldogs off the board.

In the first inning Butler put runners on second and third with two outs but sophomore Taylor Russnak was robbed of a hit by New Egypt third baseman Danelle Lewis, who just reached up and pulled in a hard liner to end the inning.

Butler then did nothing until the sixth, when senior Wendy Mauer singled and moved to second on an error. But on the next play a pinch runner was thrown out at third trying to tag up on a fly out to center field to kill the Bulldogs' rally.

"I took a risk and I sent her," Marion said. "I was kicking myself afterwards but I took the chance. I know these guys could do well so I did it. I figured we would force the throw and maybe something would happen."

In the seventh Butler tried to mount one final rally when sophomore Alexis Apkarian worked a one-out walk to bring Russnack to the plate for the final time. Once again Russnack hit a hard liner toward third and once again she was robbed of a hit by Lewis who made a diving catch for the second out.

"We hit the ball right to them," Marion said. "We didn't adjust and hit the ball up the middle as well as I hoped but we hit the ball all day and I am proud of them."

The loss ended a 27-4 season for Butler, which produced plenty of program firsts including a sectional title and appearances in the Group I and Morris County Tournament final. It also brought a sense of excitement around the program, something evident in the amount of fans that made the long trip from Butler to Toms River to support the team.

"This is great," said senior second baseman Ally Spellman as the fans lined the walkway out of the dugout and away from the field to give the team a proper send-off. "We drove two hours down here for this game and we still have all these people here. It just shows what a close knit community we have here in Butler and I can't thank these people enough."

"This season just means so much," she continued. "Win or lose today I was so proud of everything we had done. It is just such a great way to go out as a senior."

Spellman also had a prediction before she departed through the crowd.

"We are going to end in the same spot next year," she said. "And I can't wait to come to watch these girls do it again."